Tag Archives: Control Rooms

Qognify’s VisionHub next generation web-based video management system (VMS) has won the prestigious CCTV System of the Year (excluding Camera and Lens) category at the Security & Fire Excellence Awards.

A Security and Fire Excellence Award is one of the most highly-prized accolades of its kind in Europe, with the winners being selected by an independent panel of industry experts. The award was presented to Qognify in front of 1,000 security and fire industry professionals at the London Hilton Hotel, Park Lane on Wednesday 23 November.

President of Qognify, Moti Shabtai, told Risk UK: “When we introduced VisionHub we made a strong statement that Qognify was bringing to market a new concept that would redefine and extend the scope of the traditional VMS. We’re immensely proud that VisionHub is a multi-award winning solution, recognised for its ability to leverage video as the main sensor in a security environment, while also adding data from other security systems, empowering Control Room operators to better respond to new and increasingly complex threats.”

VisionHub was launched in March this year and has already been selected by leading organisations worldwide. It has been awarded the SIA’s Best Video Surveillance Management System as well as Government Security News’s Best Integrated Perimeter Protection Solution award.

Now preparing to host its seventh annual Risk Forum, Corporate Risk Associates (CRA) has announced a host of highly esteemed speakers for the event including a wealth of well-known industry figures.

Due to be held on Wednesday 5 and Thursday 6 October at the Stratford Manor Hotel in Stratford upon Avon, the event provides an excellent opportunity for professionals, academics and peers from across the security profession to learn about the latest advances in mission critical industries.

The event, which runs under the banner ‘To Automate or Not to Automate’, will feature 14 speakers who have all had first-hand experience in mission critical industries, with many working on the risk management of major projects. They will share their expertise and wealth of knowledge with attendees as they contribute towards the development of risk analysis and human factors.

Speakers include Bryan Coxson from EDF Energy, who will be presenting a Case Study focusing on specific features of the Sizewell B design having worked in the design team since 1986, as well as Elaine Vinton and Richard Screeton from the Office of Nuclear Regulation. They’ll be discussing the use of advanced Control Rooms and automation from the UK nuclear perspective.

Speaking about the line-up of speakers, Jasbir Sidhu (CEO and founder of CRA) said: “We have a fantastic host of speakers at this year’s event who will all be presenting their own dynamic and thought-provoking views on the use of automation in safety critical industries. It’s a very poignant topic in the sector. It’s great to see that we have attracted such a high calibre of leading professionals and academics to speak at this year’s Risk Forum. As we run into our seventh year, we believe this is very much down to CRA providing a valued voice for the industry through hosting events such as this and promoting open discussion. We have successfully created an excellent platform for experts to share Best Practice and transfer valuable and insightful knowledge as we pursue our goal to make the risk management sector the best it can possibly be.”

The two-day event will focus around whether the reduction of human input, with the introduction of increasingly complex automated systems, will be either a friend or foe to the industry.

Anticipated to attract at least 100 attendees from all over the globe, the event’s popularity has grown year on year, with people travelling from as far afield as the West Coast of the USA and New Mexico to engage with leaders in the industry.

Other speakers include Karl Fleming (president of KNF Consulting Services), Andrew Buchan (head of analysis and assessment, security and resilience at Sellafield) and Jeton Partini from CGM in Sweden.

Established in 2000, CRA specialises in managing safety, reliability and risk across the nuclear, transportation, defence and finance sectors. With offices in London, Warrington and other locations, the company has recently been shortlisted as Risk Management Team of the Year at this year’s CIR Risk Management Awards.

Capita Technology Solutions has launched an all-new hosted video surveillance and analytics service using automated technology to simplify security management and intelligence gathering, in turn solving the expensive and logistically complex challenge of using CCTV systems in real-time.

Capita CloudVision integrates high quality cameras and intelligent video monitoring, enabling businesses to enhance their control over physical security and business intelligence.

The system’s sophisticated analytics include cross line detection – which actively detects moving objects that cross a virtual line – and digital auto tracking which automatically detects and follows moving objects such as people and vehicles.

CloudVision also offers intrusion detection and a people counting facility, allowing retailers to monitor customer traffic.

Capita’s CloudVision

Data is stored in secure UK data centres and can then be accessed by any Internet-connected device, including mobile phones, subsequently providing data for Control Room and security staff. This enables organisations of any size to implement the most appropriate and cost-effective system possible, minimising infrastructure costs and simplifying installation.

The service was officially launched at IFSEC International, which ran at London’s ExCeL from 16-18 June..

Simon Furber, managing director at Capita Technology Solutions, commented: “Our new CloudVision service will be a key tool for companies looking to secure their assets or understand their business. Working at any scale, the new integrated system will mean that complex analytics tools and real-time security monitoring can be delivered wherever they are needed and when they are needed.”

**Capita Technology Solutions is a value-added reseller and systems integrator business unit within Capita IT Enterprise Services. Technology Solutions offers a breadth of services across voice, contact centre, data networking and IT infrastructure to deliver high performance business operations. The business exists to remove complexity, risk and excess cost from IT services while optimising the lifecycle of existing IT investments. Further information can be found at: http://www.capita-its.co.uk/solutions/pages/technologysolutions.aspx

***Capita plc is the UK’s leading provider of customer and business process management and integrated professional support service solutions. With 68,000 people operating at over 400 sites – including 80 business centres across the UK, Europe, India and South Africa – the Group uses its expertise, infrastructure and scale benefits to transform its clients’ services, driving down costs and adding value.

Capita is quoted on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 with 2014 revenues of £4.4 billion. Further information on Capita plc can be found online at: www.capita.co.uk

Control Room furniture developer Winsted has been chosen to equip a stunning new Control Room on behalf of Bulgaria’s leading security provider SOT 161.

Specialising in the delivery of a highly professional and focused range of security services, SOT is Bulgaria’s largest security provider. The company’s 4,500 security staff protect more than 85,000 sites across the country, all of which are managed centrally from the National Operations Centre in Sofia.

The National Operations Centre runs on a 24/7, 365 days a year basis and monitors the assets of numerous companies and properties, including Embassy residencies, Government buildings, banks, High Street stores, sports facilities, hotels, car dealerships, offices and ATMs.

SOT realised that the company’s staff had to be able to operate effectively in the Control Room as this is a major factor when it comes to influencing the response time and outcome of incidents. An ergonomic solution was a must.

Winsted was invited to provide ideas for the Control Rooms’ furniture requirements and duly produced computer-aided design (CAD) drawings and colour renders giving a complete visualisation of the project.

The SOT Control Room

While great importance was given to workstations having an optimum ergonomic design, the use of space and aesthetics were also important considerations in selecting the correct console design and space layout for the Control Room.

Winsted proposed and delivered a solution based on a Prestige Sight-Line console, with a stand-alone M-View media wall selected for its modern aesthetics within a contemporary environment. Console design allows for 19” rack-mounted electronic equipment, while Winsted’s Versa-Trak display mounting system affords ergonomic comfort and ‘adjustability’.

Combined with VESA-compliant brackets, Versa-Trak has enabled screens to be easily attached and provides horizontal and vertical adjustability for optimal viewing angles and sight lines for the operating staff.

Also incorporated into the console design is an enhanced cable management system consisting of a large dual-cable raceway hidden inside the console, in turn keeping all cables hidden from view but easily accessible.

“The aim of the new Control Room was to create a solution that meets current requirements while at the same time affording flexibility for future extension needs,” commented Darren Allen, Winsted’s European sales manager. “Combined with the modern interior, the console design really does give the space a ‘wow’ factor.”

Students participating in one of Tavcom Training’s Alarm Systems courses will be able to gain practical hands-on experience of alarm handling within a Control Room environment thanks to equipment donated by WebWayOne.

The equipment installed in the Control Room operators’ testing area at Tavcom’s Training Centre in Bishops Waltham includes Communicator Pro and Mini devices, as well as WebWayWorld web access in order for students to familiarise themselves with the commissioning and support of IP and 2G/3G communication.

The communicators are serially connected to Honeywell Galaxy and Texecom Intruder panels and can take advantage of SIA3 signalling which includes the support of remote servicing and diagnostics.

Putting theory into practice

“As the leading provider of security systems training, we are always looking to use the latest available technology to enhance the effectiveness of our training courses by offering students opportunities to immediately put theory into practice,” said Paul Tennent, managing director of Tavcom Training. “We’re therefore very grateful to WebWayOne for its support in providing ATS equipment. We will certainly be able to put it to good use in all of our Alarm Systems-related training courses which we will be conducting during 2015.”

Tavcom currently offers over 70 regularly scheduled training courses ranging from one-day seminars to five-day, fully-residential programmes. The courses are designed to meet the training requirements of security professionals at all levels, from foundation courses for those with little or no previous experience through to highly advanced programmes for Control Room supervisors, security managers and company executives.

CCTV Control Room furniture manufacturer Winsted has announced a move to new premises at Bromsgrove in Worcestershire. An increase in export sales and high profile project wins – involving organisation including Yokogawa, Samsung, Google, HP and HSBC – have led the company to expand the size of its UK operations.

Since its inception in 1984 the company has been located in Droitwich, a small Spa town north of Worcester. However, across the last four years the company has seen tremendous growth in sales across Europe and the Middle East while, in 2013, the company was honoured to receive the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade (the highest accolade for any UK business) for the second consecutive year.

The move brings Winsted to a new development conveniently situated in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire near Junction 1 of the M42 motorway. This affords excellent access and links to all major roads, rail and air transportation hubs. Importantly, the new facility gives the organisation almost double the amount of space when compared with its previous base, which will not only facilitate more stock holding of standard product lines but also allow for a controlled growth programme.

Winsted has moved base from Droitwich to Bromsgrove

Commenting on the move, Terry Shough (Winsted’s general manager) told Risk UK: “The move to larger premises reflects our strong performance to date. We are excited about the move which will allow us to serve our clients even better, support our staff and give us room to expand further in the future.”

Shough continued: “Quite simply, we outgrew our existing premises. We were fortunate to find such a nice space close to our current office. We really wanted to limit the impact that relocation could have on our clients and our employees, though, and I don’t think we could have found a better location for our team. Our new location and enhanced operational efficiencies will help us continue to grow and evolve to keep pace with our clients’ needs, allowing us to provide exceptional value and superior service along the way.”

Since its inception in 1963, Winsted has consistently pioneered console design and development. The company’s product concept and design is driven by industry needs and demands, with many equipped ideas suggested by customers and developed with their input.

A dominant force in the US markets for 50 years, Winsted expanded into overseas markets in 1975 and, in 1976, began concentrated efforts to establish distribution in the Middle East.

Winsted’s international distribution was firmly established in 1984 with the formation of Winsted Ltd in the UK. Since then, Winsted Ltd has become a design and manufacturing facility serving the European, Middle East and African markets.

With an ever-expanding global network of distributors, Winsted is in an excellent position to satisfy and support its rapidly growing international client base.

The Home Office has announced that it will be engaging with suppliers on detailed requirements for the new Emergency Services Network (ESN).

A Prior Information Notice has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union stating that the UK Government Department will engage suppliers regarding four separate parts of the contract for the new ESN, namely user devices, air-to-ground service and devices, vehicle installation and Control Room upgrades.

Minister of State for Policing, Criminal Justice and Victims Mike Penning said: “A modernised communications network is vital to help the emergency services protect the public and save lives. We are on track to deliver this critical part of our national infrastructure by 2017.”

The MP added: “We have seen strong interest in providing the new emergency services network and its supporting elements. I’m confident that the organisations we select will create a communications network that’s the best in the world.”

The Home Office has unveiled further plans for the Emergency Services Network

Tenders for the contracts will be submitted in the near future and will then be subject to detailed evaluation. Contracts will be awarded in 2015 and the new ESN will go live from 2017 as existing contracts expire.